Comments on: World Vision Vs. Compassion International

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 10:46:54 +0000

It really makes me sick that Christians here emphasize religion in choosing whether or not to sponsor children. How much money is it worth to you to get letters from your sponsored children to warm your hearts?. If compassion is 3% less of your donation that actually goes towards feeding starving people, or providing medicine to the sick then shouldn’t this be enough? Think – if someone can eat or not eat on a given day, wouldn’t you prefer to feed them and save the administrations costs or the whole letter thing?

How would you feel to live in a country where to receive food for your starving family you needed to attend lessons in Hinduism? Yeah sure they don’t “have to convert” to Christianity to receive your money, but how quickly would you “convert” to whatever religion if it meant your children were fed? I can’t handle this linking of welfare to religion – I am really disgusted by modern evangelical Christainity’s assumption that it is in everyone on Earth’s best interests to agree with them and believe what they believe.

By: Melissa Benson

Melissa Benson — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 00:26:01 +0000

I have been a sponsor with Compassion for 2 years.Their dedication and committment to the children they serve is unwavering.Although WV reaches out to more countries,Compassions smaller outreach is, in my opinion, more productive in ministering to the childrens needs.I am allowed to contribute extra financial gifts if I choose,and all of that goes directly to the child/family.The correspondence with my children is outstanding and Compassion also has its own social networking site where sponsors can connect with other sponsors.

By: Stephanie Green

Stephanie Green — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:45:16 +0000

As an Advocate for Compassion, I want to clarify about the correspondence issue. Some countries still have letter writing day which occurs 3 times a year. But most of the countries have been transitioned to the reciprocal system which means you will receive a letter from your child for each letter you send. For more information, see this Compassion Blog entry: http://blog.compassion.com/letter-writing-reciprocal/

By: Gale

Gale — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 06:16:11 +0000

Thanks! This is really helpful! I had sponsored a Child through compassion when I was in college and had to stop during a period where we were out of work. Now we are in a stable position again, and I have three kids and I am considering starting up a sponsorship again. I was looking at both World Vision and Compassion this time.

I am leaning towards Compassion now…the correspondence is important to me because I am going to use this as a teaching tool with my children, to help involve them, and I know Compassion handles this well.

By: Franky

Franky — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:58:43 +0000

Hi,
I’ve been sponsoring with Compassion for several years now, and needed some clarification on the letter writing process. I found that I was asking a lot of questions and getting zero responses. I spoke with a representative about this. I was advised that the children have designated letter writing days several times a year. These days do not coincide with when they receive a letter. So, if they receive a letter today, and the letter writing day is still two months away, they will likely forget the questions asked and forget to bring their letter on the letter writing day to respond to. Thought this might help prevent some disappointment.

Blessings as we change the world one child at a time.

~Franky

By: Podcasting for Compassion Day 3 | Podcasting for Compassion

Podcasting for Compassion Day 3 | Podcasting for Compassion — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 06:04:55 +0000

[...] used blog entries from Shaun Groves and Tyler Braun. Both men compare and contrast the two ministries very well and their posts help me in my final [...]

By: Donna Ward

Donna Ward — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:45:37 +0000

Besufekad has been sponsored. Prayer answered. I hope no one is turned off by Tewodros’s scowl. Teenagers can be that way, you know.

By: Donna Ward

Donna Ward — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 13:38:21 +0000

The little girl I sponsor through World Vision in Ethiopia lives in Omo Nada. As I said in a post above, Christianity is not welcome in her villiage yet. The closest Christian church to her may be in Jimma, Ethiopia just southwest of her. There are two teenagers who live in Jimma who are available for sponsorship through Compassion International. They have hearts on their profiles because it has been more than 6 months since they were registered by Compassion. Their names are Besufekad (17 years) and Tewodros (18 years)–they would be toward the end of your Ethiopian search. They speak Oromiffa which is the same language my 8 year old child from Omo Nada speaks. Maybe the work done by Compassion in Jimma will lead to Jesus being accepted where World Vision is active in Omo Nada. I sponsor two children and cannot give one up to help another. I can only pray that Besufekad and Tewodros will be sponsored.

By: Donna Ward

Donna Ward — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:46:07 +0000

I sponsor two children through World Vision. World Vision is able to go to places Compassion International cannot. There are pros and cons to this. The little girl I sponsor in Ethiopia lives in an area that does not welcome Christianity. Therefore I cannot refer to Jesus in letters I send because this might put aide workers and maybe even sponsored families in danger. World Vision provides Easter cards for the boy I sponsor in South Africa, but they provide a card with a Springtime theme for the girl in Ethiopia. I have learned Compassion International works differently than World Vision. Compassion works through local churches and can only go where churches can go. It is not required that anyone convert to Christianity to be a sponsored child, however, their program emphasizes education about Jesus along with humanitarian benefits. I continue to sponsor my World Vision kids but I also contribute to organizations like the Horn of Africa program of the Church of the Nazarene which focuses on church planting in Ethiopia. I am looking for the day when a church is able to be established where my sponsored little girl lives.

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:05:05 +0000

Thank you all for your dialogue on this topic. I appreciate all of the input and personal experiences. We have been stuck in the decision mode for too long, and have decided to go with Compassion, for the benefit of the personal communication. For us, I know our family and 4 kiddos will learn so much from the correspondence. Getting stuck in the decision is not helping either way. Faith & Action=Furthering His Kingdom!